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Unofficial Summary Translation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Speech
at the Mission to Protect and Suppress Human Trafficking in Thailand event,
20 September 2010,
Santi Maitree Building, Government House.
Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and fellow government officials, Representatives of Embassies, Honorable Guests,
I am delighted to join this event on suppressing human trafficking in Thailand, held by Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Many might have realized that the issue of human trafficking is an international crime that has drastic effect on individuals, families, communities, nations, and even the world society. Therefore, it is necessary that we focus on this issue and gather cooperation from all parties, including foreign countries, to prevent and resolve this problem.
The Government considers as an important policy to gather cooperation to prevent and resolve the problem of human trafficking, seriously and decisively. Thus, the Act on Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression was enforced since June 5th BE 2551. With this Act, we possess a specific law to suppress criminal organizations that exploit humans through trafficking, and to secure those victims who were affected. Other related laws such as the Act on Prostitution Prevention and Suppression BE 2539, the Act on Youth Security BE 2546, the Act on Labor Security BE 2541, the Act on Security for Job Seekers BE 2522, and the Act to prevent money laundering BE 2542.
In the past two years, after the enforcement of the Act on Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression BE 2551, the Government has focused very much on reserving the rights and security of the victims, according to human rights principles and morality. It also treats the victims as witnesses rather than criminals. The victims are granted a suitable defense; no matter if they are Thais or foreigners. The fund to prevent and suppress human trafficking was also established and supported by the government to rehabilitate the victims. Since its creation, the fund has aided almost 500 victims at the total amount of 8,510,897 baht. Organizations or foundations that have activities to prevent and resolve the problem of human trafficking have filed the requesting documents to ask for support from the Government, and 61 companies and 103 projects were granted at the total amount of almost 56 million baht.
At the same time, we have authority according to the Act on Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression BE 2551 to implement the prevention and suppression. Up to now, there have been 962 officials who joined training seminars and they are now working in different parts of our country.
In terms of international cooperation, Thailand has started the multilateral cooperation to work against human trafficking in the Mekong region called the COMMIT Process. The Government also suggests that we strike shared understanding with origin countries, to work together effectively, or even with the target countries which we lend our hand to help victims come back to society. This will benefit us in terms of helping increase effectiveness in suppression and prosecution, so that Thai victims will be able to become witnesses in cases, such as in the courts of Australia via the Australian Federal Police or AFP and in the British courts, through the cooperation between British police and the Royal Thai Police. For example, Thai women who were lured by human traders in Australia and Great Britain will assume the important role as witnesses in courts, and social workers will be sent to assist the witnesses in the court.
Previously, such cooperation lead to prosecution; with 3 out of 9 cases were judged in court. This has made Thailand become admired by AFP and the British police. As the chairperson of the Committee to Prevent and Suppress Human Trading, I would inform you that the Thai Government emphasizes on suppression and prosecution. We have set up specific organizations directly responsible for human trafficking in the Royal Thai Police, Office of the Attorney-General, and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) so that the wrongdoers to be sentenced as soon as possible. On the result of the prosecutions when compared to last year's, there have been more imprisonment of human traffickers; from 42 cases in last year's to 97 cases.
Apart from that, the Protection and Occupation Development Center was also founded to secure male victims from human trading. The Children and Family Shelter is set to be the center to report human trafficking via 24-hours hotline number 1300, of Pracha Bordee Center. In terms of problem prevention, the Government planned to educate children and women in the risk group in schools and communities. In the past year, seminars for 8,000 students and 3,000 women in communities were held. We have done a pretty good job in building the volunteer network to guard against human trafficking in the origin areas and target areas. We have local networks and volunteer networks to help Thai women in Europe and Japan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs campaigned to educate Thai employees who are working abroad, to be aware of the risk they might get into. Also, we have cooperation from Thai workers who were coming back home from being victimized by human trading. There is the exclusion scheme of human trafficking victims between the Immigration Bureau of Thailand and related organizations. In this year, we added the measure to guard against human trafficking in educational institutes by encouraging participation from children and youth. Also the hotline 1300 is still in use. At the same time, new measures have been added the issue of human trafficking and prosecution in the curriculum of the Police Cadet School, and other agencies.
Honorable guests, the government has set the system to administer both national and local level work, and has expanded the reach to multi-occupation and integrated the functions of all ministries relevant departments. Besides, the government also set up special subcommittees to deal with urgent problems. This reassures that Thailand is one of the countries that emphasizes on the importance of the human trafficking issue, when compared to many other countries, since apart from our clear standing point we also take our best effort to action to prevent and resolve the problems.
The Government realizes well that we need to help fellow mankind, those who have encountered the problem of human trading. One of the major causes is poverty. Therefore, the government set up a measure and policy to resolve the problem from its origin, for example, for the poverty issue the government aims to increase income opportunities and decrease costs, so that our people will have a more secure living standard. Social welfare is an accomplishment, to meet the basic needs for everyone thoroughly and equally. This will indeed prevent human trafficking. Furthermore, the Government also focuses on the importance of education, and has supported free education for 15 years, with the aim of reforming educational system in the second decade, which will focus on the improvement and alleviation of education quality, morality, and real life learning for students from activities. We are sure that this will help our people, students, and children who could be victims of human trading.
On this occasion, I commend the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for brining everyone here to share our mission on eradication of human trafficking. Also, many thanks to various departments and organizations, foundations, both domestic and foreign, who have supported the operations to prevent and suppress human trafficking in Thailand. On behalf of the Government, will do my best to carry on the task more strongly to secure and assist the victims of human trafficking most suitably and immediately. We will strictly enforce the law and continue to train our staff, so that they will be prepared, understand the issue of human trafficking thoroughly, and thus be able to work more effectively. Thank you.
Government Spokesman Bureau
Foreign Relations Division